Men Tried to Pass Deodorant Off as Crack: Police

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Robert Griffin and Matthew Miramant are accused of setting up a deal to sell crack cocaine and passing off deodorant as narcotics.

Updated at 11:50 AM EDT on Thursday, Dec 13, 2012

Middletown police arrested two local men accused of trying to pass off deodorant as crack cocaine during a controlled drug buy on Tuesday.

Police began investigating on Tuesday night when someone told police that he’d found a note under his door that he suspected was a veiled attempt to sell drugs.

“If you need party supplies call …,” the note said, according to police.

So officers sent a text to the number on the note.
“Got ur note …. I need party supplies im @ Middletown now,” the text from police said.

When officers received a response, they set up a meeting to purchase 3.5 grams of crack for $150, police said.

At 6:10 p.m., police went to the Wesleyan Inn Suits and set up surveillance, according to an arraignment report.

It was then that police saw Robert Griffin, 37, who looked nervous when he approached a room, police said.

Police approached, ordered him on the ground and Griffin pulled a baggie from the ground.

According to a police report, Griffin told officers it contained deodorant that he was representing as crack and planned to sell for $150.

Should the buyer big a big guy who discovered that he was buying a hygiene product instead of narcotics, Griffin would run, he said, according to police, and if the buyer was small, he would “stomp him.”

Griffin was charged with misrepresentation of substance as controlled substance; sixth-degree larceny, pretense or promise; and two counts conspiracy. He was held on $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 21.

Police also charged Matthew Miramant, 32, of Middletown.

Griffin told police he thought that Miramant had gone to his house to get deodorant after the text came in. They planned to pass it off as crack and Griffin would wait in the car as the transaction happened, according to police.

Miramant, whose driving privileges are suspended, admitted to dropping Griffin off at the motel, but claimed that he did not know what for, according to police.

When police searched Griffin’s car, they found heroin and drug paraphernalia in the car and two samurai swords in the trunk, police said.

Miramant was held on $25,000 bond and charged with operating under suspension, use of drug paraphernalia, misrepresentation of a substance as a controlled substance, weapons in a vehicle, larceny, conspiracy and attempt to commit a crime. He is also due in court on Dec. 21.